The New Gospel

In Matera, Rau found the social and political material to update the biblical story to the present day. It is not difficult to see how. According to some, Jesus was crucified because he challenged the established order. Two thousand years later, thousands of immigrant workers are living in the communities around Matera in appalling conditions, packed together in slums without running water or electricity. These seasonal workers, often illegal immigrants, pick tomatoes or oranges for the ‘ordinary’ Italian for next to nothing.